The National tribune., 1887-01-20

ing of the tower of Babel and the consequent dis
persion of the people resulting from the differ
ent languages into which they were divided.
The last event happened about 1876 A. NJ, or
about 200 years before Abrams Call, being about
midway of the Flood and Call of II: 1.
Abram was born in Ur and lived there till
he was 20 years old. There he married
Sarai Iscah, IL 29l. who was as is thought,
his niece, a sister of Lot. Ur was in Northern
Mesopotamia, nine miles east of the Euphrates
and about % north of Haran. It is the same
as the classic Odessa. Other names are Orfah,
Oorfah and Calliehoe. This Ur is the one
which has generally been considered the early
home OF Abram. There Is another Ur which
a goodly number of eminent men think to have
been Abrams birthplace. 1t is about six miles
west of the Euphrates, and only about 125
from the Persian Gulf. Either Urcan be reached
by water from the United States by leaving
any OF our seaports, as, c. O., Boston or New
York, crossing the Atlantic, entering the Glib
raltar, sailing the entire length of the Medi-
terranean, going through the Suez canal into
the Red Sea and so out into the Indian Ocean, up
the Persian Gulfand the Euphrates River. When
Abram was three-score-and-ten years old, his
father, Terah, then 200 years of age, took
him and his wife, Sarai, and his nephew,
Lot, setting out to go to Canaan. Us: ~
The mother of Abram was probably deceased.
1t would seem the Call first came TO Abrams
father, and he set out with his three associates,
or the Call may have come to Abram, and the
father may have set out with his son. st. Ste
phen tells US, "The God of glory appeared unto
our father Abraham. when he was in Mesopo-
tamia, before he dwelt in Charran." (Acts, z: 2
Compare, Gen, 15:7.) Then Abram left for
Haran same as Charran), stopping there on
the way to Canaan until the decease Of his
father. 1t was possibly the old age or physical
feebleness of his parent that caused him to
make stay at Haran for five years. (Acts, z:
3, A. We have reason to believe God selected
Abram as being a man noted for good judg-
ment reputed for honesty, and specially
marked as given to righteousness. For some
reason the party stopped at Haran. III 81
In five years Terah died aged 205 years. (32.)
Abram, Sarai and Lot were left. The Call was
remembered. or else God renewed it. az: l.
The land for which they were bound was Ca
naan, known also as the Promised Land, Holy
Land, Palestine, bounded on the north by
Syria, south by Arabia, east by Moab, west by
the Mediterranean. The territory promised to
the Abramie race is defined in 10: 1921. 1t
reached way east to the Euphrates, southwest
to the Nile. Possession was dependent on con-
quest and this in turn depended on the faith
and courage of the Israelite5. David and Solo
mon attained nearest to fullest boundaries, but
the people never achieved victory over the en-
tire land promised to Abram. The direct dis
find Abram in Canaan would be about 400
miles, but he probably travelled many more
miles in reaching Shechem. lie would 20
south (V. ~ bearing somewhat to the west.
The line from Sheehem to Haran would be at
an angle of about 20 degrees. The land was
inhabited by Canaanites in general, subdivided,
however, into Amorites, Jubusites. Girgashites,
Hittites, Perizzites, etc. Us: 19-21.)
That was a work demanding courage and
fofk o,,1 80 1.
own land, occupied by his own people, to take
possession Of the land Of Canaan, having with
him only wife and nephew, three against
almost innumerable and cruel hosts We can
well imagine how lonely group went out from
Haran. They were the pioneers Of the Jewish
race. We can see what st. Paul meant when
he said: "By faith Abraham, when he was
called to go out into place which he should
after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and
he went. not knowing whittier he went"
(Heb.. IL :S) The fact Abram did not know
his place of destination accounts for the words
in the first verse of our lesson, "a land that
Will show thee" How God indicated Abrams
course is not stated; it was probably by verbal
instructions.
We know by name only three Of theparty
who left Haran-Abram, Sarai and Lot. Verse
adds, "the souls that they had gotten in Ha-
ran" We know Abram was childless and Lot
probably the servants of Abram and Lot, with
wives and children. The number Of the party
we do not knw.
Gods object was to select q certain family
most promising in piety, and make it the special
depOsitary of religious truth, and the agency in
particular for maintaining and intoxicating the
doctrine of Monotheism. The persons selected
must be such as were plastic to holy influence
and faithful to trusts. God found such in
hrar nd rula in
must be said of the Jews that they were tena-
ciOus of their peculiar religion. Through the
family chosen, God purpOsed to preserve the
traditions of the patriarchal faith-to keep re-
ligious truth from extinction; to hold up before
the world the doctrine Of the one and only true
God; to serve for a constant rebuke to neigh
boring peoples given to idoIatry; to prepare the
heather world for the coming of Christ.
Abram first stopped at an oak grove (plain in
V. 81, near Shechem. Next we find him at
Bethel LUZ, Is miles south of Shechem and IL
north of Jerusalem.
Duties taught:
1. We are all subject to Gods calls. As God
sent Christ SO Christ sends Us. Heed divine
limitations.
p Exercise faith in God. Often we shall be
called to do things which we cannot under
stand. Go forth as Abram, even if you do not
know the particulars. Gods order is itself
guarantee of fitness and success.
3. Christ has promised to be with his people
always and everywhere in the line of duty
God appeared to Abram way of at Shechem.
". ~
4. Love Christ more than you do any other
being or thing. If need be, for the sake of re-
ligious duty, abandon parents, wife, children.
Our Savior must be to us more than country,
kindred, the old family mansion, ones town.
(V. ]. Compare Mt, 1927 Fortunately, in
our day, we can safely be Christians without
persecution, domestic infelicity, or want OF
patriotism.
3. Obey God. "Abram departed as the Lord
had spoken unto him" ". ~ He did as di-
rected. It is interesting to eonnec. "the Lord
. said unto Abram get thee out, "
etc, (V. IL with $50" Just as bidden) "Abram
departed" (V. ~
9. Be careful how you treat Others. God il
conscious of all human conduct. Christ put
himself in the place of each of US and then de-
clares that whatever kindness or injury one
does to another will be accounted as done to
himself. Those who blessed Abram were to be
blessed, while cursings were to descend ON the
heads Of those who cursed him. (I2:3) They
who despised the Apostles were guilty Of doing
despite to Christ.
Z. Accomplish what you set out to do. "They
went forth TO 60 into the land Of Canaan; and
into the land of Canaan they came" ". s.
Men, beginning all the time never reach the
end. PerseyGre. Do not give up easily.
g. Wherever you go carry your religious
principles Never settle without erecting an
altar for Gods worship. (Vs. 2, 81 Family
affairs are wanted in our homes.
q Worshin C,od Evan 70 traveI;n, 10 rot